Former acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement under President Obama, John Sandweg, has questioned the impact of New York City's sanctuary laws following the shooting of an off-duty Border Patrol agent, Breitbart reported.
Sandweg, discussing the implications of the crime, linked sanctuary policies to the incident while emphasizing a need for both legislative and operational change.
Sandweg's comments were made during a broadcast on "NewsNation Now" on Tuesday. During this appearance, Sandweg discussed how sanctuary city policies, like those in place in New York City, could have contributed to the shooting incident. He suggested that the city's non-cooperation with ICE possibly allowed the shooter to remain on the streets.
Sandweg explained that the individual responsible for the shooting had entered the United States unlawfully. The suspect had multiple arrests, including for violent offenses, and had been ordered to be deported.
The former ICE director suggested that cooperation with ICE might have led to the prevention of the shooting incident. "Certainly, if New York City had handed these guys over to ICE, you probably wouldn’t have had this shooting," Sandweg said. The lack of collaboration between local authorities and ICE was highlighted as a significant issue.
Sandweg's analysis included a broader critique of ICE's current tactics. He noted a shift in focus towards large worksite operations, like farms and factories, which he argued could allow more dangerous individuals to escape notice. These operational strategies were described as a departure from more targeted approaches that might better identify and apprehend such individuals.
Sandweg expressed concern over how ICE is pressured to increase the number of apprehensions. He suggested that this pressure might be contributing to the inefficacy of current methods in targeting more illicit individuals.
The tactics, focusing on workplace raids, often miss finding individuals involved in more serious crimes. Sandweg questioned whether the shift to larger operations is making it easier for dangerous individuals to avoid detection.
This critique raises questions about the effectiveness of ICE's strategy in monumentally impacting local safety. Sandweg's insights suggest a need for reevaluation and potential reform to address current shortcomings and enhance safety measures.
Addressing the sanctuary policies, Sandweg noted that something needs to change to prevent events like the recent shooting. He acknowledged the complexity of the issue, urging a broad perspective beyond just sanctuary laws.
He stated, "But Marni, I think you’ve got to look bigger than just at the sanctuary laws." This highlights his recognition of systemic issues affecting immigration enforcement and public safety.
For Sandweg, the recent incident should serve as a wake-up call, signaling that something is broken in New York. His reflections pointed towards a collective responsibility to ensure individuals with serious criminal backgrounds are not able to exploit sanctuary policies.
While acknowledging the role of sanctuary laws, Sandweg made it clear that broader structural changes within ICE operations are necessary. His comments bring attention to the balance needed between local cooperation and federal immigration processes.
Sandweg emphasized a strategic alignment among agencies to avoid allowing individuals involved in serious crime to take advantage of discrepancies between local and federal priorities.
The former ICE director's call for reform illustrates the intricate nature of immigration enforcement and public safety. As discussions about sanctuary cities continue, Sandweg's perspective advocates for enhanced collaboration and comprehensive reform to address these pressing issues.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The United States is withdrawing all of its support from UNESCO, the United Nation's "Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization," because of its anti-Israel bias, exhibited by its decision to claim Palestinian statehood.
The announcement was made by the U.S. State Department, in a statement from spokeswoman Tammy Bruce.
"UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy," Bruce explained. "UNESCO's decision to admit the 'State of Palestine' as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization."
The end of the relationship between the two will happen at the end of 2026, the announcement said.
President Trump earlier pulled America out of the leftist agenda, in 2017, a decision based then on the group's anti-Israel bias. Joe Biden quickly had the country rejoin.
The Washington Examiner explained the move "is in line with Trump's executive order from February that called for a 90-day review of federal funding and involvement in the U.N., including UNESCO. The general review specifically probed 'any anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment within the organization.'"
Further, the U.S. review of UNESCO confirmed it also held a pro-China bias and promoted leftist plans like "diversity, equity, and inclusion."
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed disappointment.
UNESCO became part of the discussion earlier, when Trump announced he was pulling American support from the U.N. Human Rights Council.
He also paused funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency that was set up specifically to give money to Palestinians, an organization that was revealed to have had employees take part in the Oct. 7, 2024, terror attack by Hamas on Israel.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has updated its gender policies to comply with President Trump's executive order barring men from competing in women's sports.
While the committee's 27-page updated "Athletic Safety Policy," does not mention "transgender" athletes, it includes language saying it will comply with Trump's order, EO 14201.
"The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities, e.g., IOC, IPC, NGBs, to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act," the document says.
According to NBC News, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland and President Gene Sykes acknowledged the update in a letter to the Team USA community.
"As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations," they said. "The guidance we've received aligns with the Ted Stevens Act, reinforcing our mandated responsibility to promote athlete safety and competitive fairness."
The updated policy "emphasizes the importance of ensuring fair and safe competition environments for women," with all national governing bodies required to update their policies to align with the updated guidelines, they added.
The National Women's Law Center was quick to denounce the committee's move. "Without any process or clarity about its decision, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has let Trump rewrite its rules in a cruel effort to deny transgender women the opportunity to participate," said a press release from the group.
New York Democratic Rep. Yvette Clark has been caught admitting that she is in favor of allowing more illegal immigrants into her district "just for redistricting purposes," Fox News reported. This revelation came from a clip that resurfaced on social media.
Republicans have often speculated that Democrats open the borders for their own cynical political purposes. Typically, they couch their arguments for unchecked illegal immigration in terms of humanitarian concerns or other altruistic goals.
However, Clark admitted that her fervor for illegal immigration came from the fact that it would benefit her. She said this during a 2021 briefing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee while claiming Brooklyn could "absorb a significant number of these migrants" into the Haitian community.
"When I hear my colleagues talk about, you know, the doors of the inn being closed, no room in the inn, I’m saying, you know, I need more people in my district, just for redistricting purposes, and those members could clearly fit here," Clarke said. This has caused a social media firestorm as the debate over illegal immigration rages on.
The footage of this stunning admission has resurfaced after journalist Kyle Becker posted it to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday. "House Rep. Yvette Clarke just said the quiet part out-loud. Democrats are as anti-American as it gets," Becker charged.
"I need more migrants in my district, for redistricting purposes."
House Rep. Yvette Clarke just said the quiet part out-loud. Democrats are as anti-American as it gets.pic.twitter.com/tKG27wFyfl
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) July 22, 2025
Becker went on to slam Clarke and others on her side of the debate. "It is madness that American citizens are footing the bill for foreigners to come here, use our social services, our education services, our infrastructure, and then retire at our expense," Becker said in a comment.
"All because the anti-American Democratic Party wants a few extra seats in Congress. Enough!" Becker added. Others chimed in, including the "End Wokeness" account that said, "This is how you hijack democracy."
Conservative commentator David Freeman added to that sentiment. "Dems have been saying the quiet part out loud for years. This is why the imported MILLIONS. They want to have a one party country," Freeman wrote.
The problem with Democrats and illegal immigration has come to a head recently as they've dropped any pretense of moderating their policies. In 2021, Democrats in deep-blue New York City attempted to allow illegal immigrants to vote in elections.
The New York City Council passed a law that would have permitted almost one million noncitizens to cast ballots in the city council and mayoral elections. The New York Court of Appeals blocked the law, but that doesn't mean Democrats are ready to back off.
With this reality in mind, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act that would require voters wishing to cast ballots in federal elections to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering. It would require require states purge voter rolls of noncitizens.
The bill would also make it a criminal offense to register a person to vote in a federal election without receiving proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill has passed in the House of Representatives but not in the Senate.
It's unconscionable that a politician would be as self-serving as Clarke and allow illegal immigration to destroy the country. Unfortunately, the problem goes well beyond Clarke and infects much of the Democratic Party, which is why the nation is in this predicament.
House Republicans have advanced an amendment to a spending bill that would rename the Kennedy Center's opera house to the "First Lady Melania Trump Opera House," Breitbart reported. The House Appropriations Committee passed the change Tuesday in a 33-28 vote as Democrats cry foul.
The proposal was put forth by House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), who agrees with President Donald Trump's vision for the arts center to be more welcoming to faith and family. "First Lady Melania Trump serves as the Honorary Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Kennedy Center," Simpson said.
"Naming a theater after her is an excellent way to recognize her appreciation for the arts," he added. The change was added to the FY26 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
The department funds the Kennedy Center, and the president is eager to reform its progressive aims. Of course, this has outraged Democrats who have accused Republicans of sneaking it into the bill.
Donald Trump has been adamant about cleaning up the crazy leftism. He posted on Truth Social about the changes, including the firing of most of the board, on February 7.
"At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture," Donald Trump said shortly after taking office.
"We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP! Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP," the president went on.
"The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!" Trump concluded.
The president has already succeeded in making the Kennedy Center a more wholesome place. It hosted "The King of Kings" film from Angel Studios to a packed house, with more events like it to come.
"This is family-friendly programming that we will be doing more of in the future. The American people want to see more shows that reflect their values," Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell promised.
Of course, the Democrats detest this and are especially outraged about the name change. According to ABC News, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) claims Republicans "snuck in" the "divisive" proposal for the name change.
The Trumps have sought to return the nation to a better time when morals and faith mattered, especially in public endeavors. Democrats can't stand this because they are the party of depravity, but it's exactly the reason Donald Trump was elected in the first place.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A federal judge has concluded, apparently, that abortion industry giant Planned Parenthood has a constitutional right to have tax money.
A report at Fox News reveals a leftist judge chosen for her lifetime appointment by abortion-promoting Barack Obama has temporarily blocked the administration of President Donald Trump from stopping the flow of tax money, through Medicaid, to the abortionists.
Congress called for those funds to be stripped from Planned Parenthood's corporate coffers, and Trump signed the bill, making it the law of the land.
Judge Indira Talwani, whose leftist activism runs deep, has given the abortion industry a preliminary injunction claiming the bill "unconstitutionally" punishes Planned Parenthood groups that do not abort unborn children.
Talwani's order came in a lawsuit brought by Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion business.
A commentary by Olivia Summers, senior litigation counsel with the American Center for Law and Justice, explained the partial injunction "twisted the First Amendment into a shield for abortion providers—protecting not just their speech, but their funding. Congress has every right to decide that taxpayer dollars should not flow to abortion providers or their affiliates."
Her warning was that, "This ruling effectively grants Planned Parenthood a constitutional entitlement to federal funds."
She continued, "This decision carves out a dangerous privilege—one that elevates abortion providers above every other grantee, creating a special class of government-sponsored speakers. It lays the groundwork for permanent entrenchment of abortion groups within the federal funding landscape, shielding them from the political accountability that applies to everyone else.
"Once again, the abortion distortion is at work—where normal rules of law are suspended simply because abortion is involved. A routine federal funding decision becomes a First Amendment violation. A restriction on one of the most powerful and politically connected lobbying networks in America somehow becomes an equal protection problem. The court treats Planned Parenthood not as the pro-abortion advocacy juggernaut that it is, but as a fragile association of speakers whose funding must be constitutionally guaranteed."
WND previously reported about the judge, who was determined by commentator Nathan Stone at the Federalist to be delivering "judicial terrorism."
"Indira Talwani, an Obama-appointed judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, ushered in the next chapter of judicial supremacy when she blocked the provisions of the 'big beautiful bill' which deprived Planned Parenthood and its affiliate organizations of Medicaid funds," Stone explained. "If Judge Talwani had 'found' those provisions 'unconstitutional,' or if she had found the whole reconciliation package 'illegal'" it would be another example of judicial usurpation. Business as usual. But she didn't do either. Talwani's temporary restraining order commands that the executive ignore the law and keep shoveling the Benjamins to feed abortions. As Dan McLaughlin said on X, 'You can't argue with the judge's reasoning because there isn't any.'"
The order from Talwani is just part of a campaign on the part of judges at the entry level courts to the federal judiciary of opposing President Donald Trump's plans and agendas, even if delivered through ordinary and accepted channels like a congressional bill and a signature by a president.
The agenda already has prompted the Supreme Court to say those judges are exercising powers they don't have by repeatedly demanding they have their way on policies and practices of the executive branch, instead of letting the president run that branch, as the Constitution provides.
"The surface irony of this would be comedy gold in a movie. For the last 10 years, the left's bread and butter has been to paint Trump, his allies, his voters, and the Republican Party as fascists intent on destroying 'our democracy.' But, when the sacrament of abortion is in jeopardy, it does a 180 and orders the president to completely ignore a law that was duly passed and signed — textbook fascist behavior," the commentary said.
Further, it said, Talwani's writing "does not even try to pretend to be anything other than naked power that commands lawlessness for the sake of killing babies. Separation of powers, the rule of law, the legislative power, and the very ability of the American people to enact change through their duly elected representatives — one of the fundamental markers of self-governance — are all done away with a flick of Talwani's pen."
"Make no mistake: Judge Talwani is a legal terrorist. Her TRO is the judicial equivalent of an IED, which was supposed to destroy the administration by either disobeying the law or disobeying the judiciary. It's not about the country or an alternate vision. Now, it is only about destruction — pure and sweet."
The National Economic Council's data reveals that President Donald Trump's first six months in office have created a strong economy, Breitbart reported. Indicators, including low inflation and increased manufacturer output, have quelled fears of a recession.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai told Breitbart that this should silence naysayers. "During his first six months in office, President Trump has repeatedly embarrassed the panicans who predicted doom and gloom, from inflation to recession," Desai said.
In June, the Consumer Price Index recorded its fifth consecutive month of inflation rates below expectations. The Federal Reserve sets a 2 percent target, and Trump's economy has remained right in line with an annualized rate of 2.1 percent, which the Council of Economic Advisers touted on X, formerly Twitter, last week.
Core CPI rose 0.2% in June, beating market expectations 0f 0.3%.
Since President Trump took office, core CPI is tracking 2.1% annualized, consistent with low & stable inflation.
(Headline CPI is tracking 1.8% annualized)
— Council of Economic Advisers (@CEA47) July 15, 2025
One indicator of Trump's economic success is the increase in manufacturing output since he took office for his second term as president. From January when he took office through June, manufacturing increased by 1.8 percent.
While this doesn't seem significant on the surface, it is a great success compared to Trump's predecessor, former President Joe Biden. Manufacturing output between August 2024 and January 2025 decreased by .7 percent under Biden, meaning Trump's economy overcame his deficit pluse another increase.
The labor market also remains robust for job seekers, especially native-born Americans. According to Breitbart News economics editor John Carney, that cohort saw an additional 830,000 people employed.
Meanwhile, the number of foreign-born workers declined by 348,000, marking the third consecutive month of decrease. "More Americans stepping up to take jobs," Carney said of the news.
"Employers, used to drawing from a bottomless global pool, are now facing a domestic labor market and are adjusting accordingly. American workers, seeing that employers are now turning to them to fill jobs, are stepping up," Carney added.
Notably, this good news comes before Trump's policies are fully reflected, suggesting that just the promise of those is enough to give the economy a jolt. The president's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed on July 4, will allow Americans to keep more of their money.
By eliminating taxes on overtime and tips, and offering additional tax cuts, the economic outlook may only improve as the effects of the legislation are felt. Even Trump's tariffs, which caused panic among conservatives and liberals alike, have added $120 billion in revenue.
Desai touted this news. "Under President Trump, Americans have seen an end to Joe Biden’s inflation crisis, multiple expectation-beating jobs reports, record tariff revenue collection, bond and stock market rallies, and historic investment commitments worth trillions that will cement America’s dominance in cutting-edge sectors," the deputy press secretary said.
"And the best is yet to come – as the pro-growth policies of The One Big Beautiful Bill and new trade deals kick in, America’s economic resurgence under President Trump will only accelerate," Desai added. The latest data points suggest that it's already happening.
Trump is doing a great job, despite facing pushback from both sides of the aisle. If these economic trends continue, America could indeed be great again with a resurgence of prosperity and stability for all.
In a striking critique, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass voiced significant concerns over federal officers conducting raids while disguised and unmarked, which she argued sows confusion and fear within the community, Breitbart reported.
During a national interview, Mayor Bass questioned the legality of masked officials detaining individuals without clear identification, comparing it unfavorably with local police protocols.
Appearing on ABC's "This Week," Mayor Bass discussed the startling scenes witnessed in Los Angeles, where officers, faces concealed and devoid of any identifiable markings, detained people. This action, she noted, was particularly alarming in a city like Los Angeles, with its large immigrant population.
About half of Los Angeles's 3.8 million residents are Latino, which makes the manner of these raids even more disconcerting. The use of unmarked vehicles and the absence of identifiable uniforms or license plates led many to fear that kidnappings, not lawful arrests, were occurring.
Mayor Bass specifically criticized the anonymity of the officers involved in the operations. She underscored the difference between the local law enforcement handled by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), where officers do not wear masks and are recognizable to the people they serve.
These methods, according to Mayor Bass, contribute to a climate of fear and confusion, undermining trust between law enforcement and the community.
In her interview, Bass highlighted the stark contrast between the methods used by masked federal agents and the everyday operations of the LAPD, which engages with the community transparently and without anonymity. Her concern was underscored by the fact that these federal agents are not only masked but also arrived in unmarked cars, staying temporarily in the city to conduct their operations before leaving.
Raising a fundamental question about rights and professional duty, Mayor Bass contested the notion that law enforcement officers have an inherent right to mask their identity while engaging in actions such as detaining individuals off the streets.
She posed a poignant question about the necessity of masks, emphasizing the LAPD's ability to operate effectively without such anonymity.
The show's host, Martha Raddatz, brought up possible justifications for the raids, mentioning that the use of masks could be due to safety concerns for the officers, such as threats or doxing. This stance suggests a defensive strategy aimed at protecting officers from possible retaliation.
However, Bass was resolute in her response, emphasizing that officers who choose careers in law enforcement should be prepared to face these risks visibly, without the need for disguises that could undermine public trust and transparency.
Bass asserted that maintaining officer safety should not come at the expense of community transparency and trust, which are crucial for effective law enforcement.
The implications of such federal actions are particularly profound in a sanctuary city like Los Angeles, where policies and local governance aim to protect immigrants. The fear instigated by these disguised, unmarked engagements could contribute to a climate of distrust and anxiety among an already vulnerable population.
In conclusion, Mayor Bass’s stark critique not only questions the legality and morality of masked law enforcement operations but also invites a dialogue on the balance between the necessary protections for officers and the imperative transparency owed to the community. Her comments have sparked conversations on national and local levels regarding the best approach to law enforcement in diverse, densely populated urban settings.
This story illustrates not just a local issue but a significant discussion point on national security tactics and their effects on local governance and community trust. As the situation unfolds, further responses from federal authorities and additional community reactions will likely continue to shape the ongoing narrative around these controversial law enforcement strategies.
The Biden White House and then-Attorney General Merrick Garland conspired together to find a way to charge parents who spoke out against far left policies at school board meetings around the country, according to documents obtained by America First Legal, a watchdog group.
The group published memos and emails it obtained that looked for a "federal hook" to charge the parents with crimes, but DOJ lawyers pushed back on the requests and said any prosecution would "trample" the parents' First Amendment rights.
America First Legal said:
These never-before-seen documents—uncovered only because of AFL’s relentless efforts over the past three and a half years—expose not only the Biden White House’s involvement in pushing a weaponized DOJ, but also strong dissent from careers within the Department’s Civil Rights Division, who warned that there was no federal authority or legal basis to target these parents in the first place because their speech is protected by the First Amendment.
The emails took place between October 1 and 3, just days before the infamous memo from Garland that labeled the outspoken parents as "domestic terrorists."
Despite the DOJ lawyers telling the AG's office that the parents were merely using their First Amendment rights and nothing criminal was happening, the DOJ under Garland called them dangerous terrorists in an effort to threaten them into silence anyway.
The main reasons these parents were speaking out was because of policies around COVID, transgenderism, and critical race theory that were harming their children.
One case involved sexual assaults of two students and others involved biological males harming female students while playing girls' sports because they identified as girls.
Other parents didn't want their children exposed to critical race theory, which paints an entire race--whites--as racist and distorts American history.
Because the leftists in the DOJ and Biden administration favored these policies, they wanted to shut down dissenting parents and silence them.
These same leftists have been crying for months about President Donald Trump threatening democracy and being a tyrant, but their behavior was a direct assault on these parents' constitutional rights and an effort to circumvent democracy.
"It seems that we are ramping up an awful lot of federal manpower for what is currently a non-federal conduct,” a DOJ lawyer wrote the day before Garland published his memo, ignoring the advice that it was not legally sound to do so.
Democracy prevailed, however, when Garland's memo became public and provoked enough controversy to get him to back down and give up his intimidation campaign.
Some parents became even louder after the memo, because this is America, and people accustomed to freedom don't give it up without a fight.
If parents are ever too scared of federal charges to raise their concerns at school board meetings, democracy will indeed be dead.
President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown has been nothing short of a massive success, and his policies are paying dividends in unexpected places.
According to the Daily Mail, the Trump administration was able to brag heavily this week about a particularly dangerous jungle choke point "where hundreds of thousands of migrants bound for the U.S. routinely imperiled themselves.
The number of migrants' who crossed there during former President Joe Biden's rule was off the charts, but under President Donald Trump, the numbers have dropped significantly.
The chokepoint, described as "an expanse of dense rainforest, steep ravines and swamps that regularly endures extreme rainfall, flash-floods and landslides."
The area is called the Darien Gap, and due to the sheer number of migrants who attempted to cross there, given the deadly risks of the area, it's known as one of the most dangerous in the world.
Under President Trump's immigration crackdown, the numbers have reportedly slowed to "a trickle."
The Daily Mail noted:
There were 55 migrant deaths in the gap last year, and 180 children abandoned and left for dead were rescued, local authorities claimed. There were 31,000 Darien Gap crossings in June of 2024.
But the dangerous crossings there have all but stopped, and according to a Spanish language news report, just 10 migrants crossed through the Darien Gap this June - something the White House says is cause for celebration.
But it's no wonder why the Panamanian government was shocked by the latest report, as only 3,000 have reportedly tried crossing there in 2025, compared to what's typicall hundreds of thousands.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson explained to the Daily Mail why the numbers have dropped.
"Word of the United States’ secure border has spread so far around the world, that migrants aren’t even willing to make the dangerous journey to get here because they know they’ll be turned away," she told the outlet.
She added, "For the last two months, Border Patrol released zero illegal aliens into the United States."
Several locals in the area who have helped those attempting to cross the gap have confirmed the good news.
Most of them reported that while they used to help hundreds, they're currently only helping a few here and there.
It's simply further proof that whatever Trump is doing, it's working quite well.